ingenious
adjective
in·ge·nious
in-ˈjēn-yəs 
1
: having or showing an unusual aptitude for discovering, inventing, or contriving
an ingenious detective
2
: marked by originality, resourcefulness, and cleverness in conception or execution
an ingenious contraption
3
obsolete
: showing or calling for intelligence, aptitude, or discernment
ingeniously
adverb
ingeniousness
noun
Examples of ingenious in a Sentence
How many dog-size bathrobes (an ingenious device) are out there?
—
David Colman, Vogue, April 2001
… spacecraft engineers tried to come up with ways to "unstick" the antenna. Those attempts failed, but by ingenious software and mission-sequencing techniques … the Galileo mission was still able to fulfill nearly all of its scientific requirements and return a rich quantity of scientific data …
—Louis Friedman et al., Encyclopedia of the Solar System, 1999
… an ingenious method of checking errors …
—W. David Gardner, Datamation, June 1982
The book has an ingenious plot.
She was ingenious at finding ways to work more quickly.
It was ingenious of him to arrange the schedule so precisely.
David Colman, Vogue, April 2001
… spacecraft engineers tried to come up with ways to "unstick" the antenna. Those attempts failed, but by ingenious software and mission-sequencing techniques … the Galileo mission was still able to fulfill nearly all of its scientific requirements and return a rich quantity of scientific data …
—Louis Friedman et al., Encyclopedia of the Solar System, 1999
… an ingenious method of checking errors …
—W. David Gardner, Datamation, June 1982
The book has an ingenious plot.
She was ingenious at finding ways to work more quickly.
It was ingenious of him to arrange the schedule so precisely.
Recent Examples on the Web
Thankfully, one ingenious backpacker designed this key to aid in the process.
—Zoe Gates, Outside, 28 Oct. 2025
The deluxe cabins are slightly smaller, but ingenious, with sofabeds and stools that pull double duty as couches and coffee tables.
—Antonia Mortensen, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
However, what's even more ingenious in setting them apart from other horror villains is how the killer offs their victims by using the rules of horror films against them.
—Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
Most successful forgers were smart and creative people, and many of their forgeries were consummate, even ingenious.
—JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ingenious
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Zoe Gates, Outside, 28 Oct. 2025
The deluxe cabins are slightly smaller, but ingenious, with sofabeds and stools that pull double duty as couches and coffee tables.
—Antonia Mortensen, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
However, what's even more ingenious in setting them apart from other horror villains is how the killer offs their victims by using the rules of horror films against them.
—Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
Most successful forgers were smart and creative people, and many of their forgeries were consummate, even ingenious.
—JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ingenious
Cite this Entry
“Ingenious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ingenious. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ingenious
adjective
in·ge·nious
in-ˈjēn-yəs
: having or showing ingenuity : very clever
an ingenious plan
ingeniously
adverb
ingeniousness
noun
Etymology
from early French ingenieus "calling for or showing special intelligence or cleverness," from Latin ingeniosus (same meaning), from ingenium "natural ability or desire to do something, inborn ability," from in "in" and -genium, from gignere "to father, beget" — related to engine, genius, gin entry 1
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